Military expenditure in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Military expenditure was 2.54 trillion current LCU in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
2.54 trillion current LCU
Change on year
up 38.6%
World rank
24th
of 168 countries
All-time high
2.54 trillion current LCU
in 2024
All-time low
0 current LCU
in 1963
Years of data
58
1963–2024
Military expenditure in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1963–2024
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
In 2024, military expenditure in Democratic Republic of Congo stood at 2.54 trillion current LCU. That is the highest value across all 58 years on record.
That represents a change of up 38.6% on the previous year and up 703.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 2.54 trillion current LCU in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0 current LCU, in 1963.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 24th out of 168 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 0 current LCU | — |
| 1964 | 0 current LCU | +86.4% |
| 1965 | 0 current LCU | +58.4% |
| 1966 | 0 current LCU | -0.7% |
| 1967 | 0.0001 current LCU | +23.2% |
| 1968 | 0.0001 current LCU | +58.8% |
| 1969 | 0.0001 current LCU | +43.5% |
| 1970 | 0.0002 current LCU | +41.3% |
| 1971 | 0.0002 current LCU | -0.6% |
| 1972 | 0.0002 current LCU | -7.6% |
| 1973 | 0.0002 current LCU | +8.9% |
| 1974 | 0.0003 current LCU | +84.8% |
| 1975 | 0.0003 current LCU | -8.2% |
| 1976 | 0.0003 current LCU | +10.0% |
| 1977 | 0.0005 current LCU | +44.5% |
| 1978 | 0.0006 current LCU | +29.9% |
| 1979 | 0.0011 current LCU | +83.6% |
| 1980 | 0.0014 current LCU | +29.1% |
| 1981 | 0.001 current LCU | -26.3% |
| 1982 | 0.0028 current LCU | +169.3% |
| 1983 | 0.0034 current LCU | +20.2% |
| 1984 | 0.0064 current LCU | +89.7% |
| 1985 | 0.0067 current LCU | +4.4% |
| 1986 | 0.0134 current LCU | +99.7% |
| 1987 | 0.0106 current LCU | -20.9% |
| 1988 | 0.134 current LCU | +1164.2% |
| 1989 | 0.0858 current LCU | -36.0% |
| 1990 | 0.11 current LCU | +28.2% |
| 1991 | 2.28 current LCU | +1972.7% |
| 1992 | 184 current LCU | +7970.2% |
| 1993 | 11,797 current LCU | +6311.4% |
| 1996 | 44.80 million current LCU | +379657.6% |
| 1997 | 110.10 million current LCU | +145.8% |
| 1998 | 42.80 million current LCU | -61.1% |
| 1999 | 600.20 million current LCU | +1302.3% |
| 2000 | 2.90 billion current LCU | +383.3% |
| 2003 | 31.91 billion current LCU | +999.9% |
| 2004 | 54.98 billion current LCU | +72.3% |
| 2005 | 78.29 billion current LCU | +42.4% |
| 2006 | 96.05 billion current LCU | +22.7% |
| 2007 | 106.05 billion current LCU | +10.4% |
| 2008 | 89.49 billion current LCU | -15.6% |
| 2009 | 99.10 billion current LCU | +10.7% |
| 2010 | 166.40 billion current LCU | +67.9% |
| 2011 | 219.56 billion current LCU | +31.9% |
| 2012 | 305.81 billion current LCU | +39.3% |
| 2013 | 344.44 billion current LCU | +12.6% |
| 2014 | 315.71 billion current LCU | -8.3% |
| 2015 | 454.92 billion current LCU | +44.1% |
| 2016 | 399.98 billion current LCU | -12.1% |
| 2017 | 428.97 billion current LCU | +7.2% |
| 2018 | 477.26 billion current LCU | +11.3% |
| 2019 | 582.00 billion current LCU | +21.9% |
| 2020 | 670.33 billion current LCU | +15.2% |
| 2021 | 611.11 billion current LCU | -8.8% |
| 2022 | 749.35 billion current LCU | +22.6% |
| 2023 | 1.83 trillion current LCU | +144.2% |
| 2024 | 2.54 trillion current LCU | +38.6% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 2.54 trillion current LCU is above the median for low income countries, which is 202.63 billion current LCU, 12.5× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 2.54 trillion current LCU is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 114.43 billion current LCU, 22.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military expenditure in Democratic Republic of Congo changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | +379657.6% | 11,797 current LCU | 44.80 million current LCU |
| 1992 | +7970.2% | 2.28 current LCU | 184 current LCU |
| 1993 | +6311.4% | 184 current LCU | 11,797 current LCU |
| 1991 | +1972.7% | 0.11 current LCU | 2.28 current LCU |
| 1999 | +1302.3% | 42.80 million current LCU | 600.20 million current LCU |
| 1988 | +1164.2% | 0.0106 current LCU | 0.134 current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.0001 current LCU | 0 current LCU | 0.0001 current LCU | 7 |
| 1970s | 0.0004 current LCU | 0.0002 current LCU | 0.0011 current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.0266 current LCU | 0.001 current LCU | 0.134 current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 99.74 million current LCU | 0.11 current LCU | 600.20 million current LCU | 8 |
| 2000s | 69.85 billion current LCU | 2.90 billion current LCU | 106.05 billion current LCU | 8 |
| 2010s | 369.50 billion current LCU | 166.40 billion current LCU | 582.00 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.28 trillion current LCU | 611.11 billion current LCU | 2.54 trillion current LCU | 5 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More public sector data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Democracy, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Democracy 3 (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 1 (2025)
- Elected parliament 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Military expenditure in Democratic Republic of Congo was 2.54 trillion current LCU in 2024, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 2.54 trillion current LCU in 2024.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 current LCU in 1963.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for military expenditure?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 24th out of 168 countries with data for 2024.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 703.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Military expenditure (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military expenditure in local currency at current prices (by calendar year)